United States History

What should we say about the United States of America? So much has already been said, adding our two cents is a bit redundant or presumptuous, depending on your perspective. Certainly, no one needs us to outline the facts, the major events and figures, or to describe our unique written Constitution and democratic-republican system.

We can offer a bit of perspective. It's nothing new, nothing we came up with on our own, but it is different from a lot of the prevailing notions about both history in general and our nation in particular.

For starters, there's no specific reference to the U.S. in the Bible. The principles found in God's Word that apply to all nations certainly apply to the United States as well, but we aren't a Christian nation, we don't hold a special place in biblical prophecy, and Manifest Destiny is the result of Enlightenment rationalist views about the Progress of Mankind rather than being rooted in any kind of Christian attitude.

That said, many of the first settlers of the New World were dedicated Christians seeking the right to worship God without the constraints of political entanglement or government-imposed strictures and doctrine. The Pilgrims came in 1620, just 13 years after the first successful English settlement at Jamestown, and the Puritan settlers followed soon after.

Their arrivals and colonization didn't make America Christian, of course. It was a broad continent, largely unknown, and the initial colonies weren't strictly bound together at first, as they were later to become. By that time, things had become substantially more secular, so that by the 18th century many Americans were just as degenerate as their European counterparts. Fortunately, men like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were around to preach the true Gospel, and to initiate a revival known as the Great Awakening.

Secular forces were still at work, though. While there were definitely many Christians involved, the American Revolution was largely the result of Enlightenment philosophizing, and men were convinced that America could produce a virtuous and stable population if education and participatory government were enforced. So they rebelled against England, and the United States republic was formed.

Ever since, groups and individuals have tried to call Americans back to their Christian roots. That's the wrong strategy: we don't need to call anyone back to anything, we need to point the way forward to the pursuit of Christ and the bringing of His Gospel and glory to every corner of the earth no matter what our country of origin. That America has been so materially blessed simply means we have more options at our disposal for proclaiming and bringing the Word to the rest of the world.

Our study of United States history is consequently Christ-centered. Not because we think America is more Christian than other countries, but because it (like all other nations) is under Christ's control as King of Heaven and Lord of Time. Of course, you shouldn't abandon study of the facts, people and events, but they only attain true meaning when viewed through the lens of Christ's ultimate plan of redemption and self-glorification.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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348 Items found Print
Active Filters: 6th grade (Ages 11-12), Trade Paperback, Used Books & Materials
100 African-Americans Who Shaped American History
by Chrisanne Beckner
from Bluewood Books
for 4th-8th grade
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving
by Catherine O'Neill Grace
from National Geographic
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Adventures of Lewis and Clark
by John Bakeless
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Almost Home
Daughters of the Faith
by Wendy G. Lawton
from Moody Press
Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade
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Alone Yet Not Alone
by Tracy Leininger Craven
Mti from Zonderkidz
Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade
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American Milestones: World War I
by Carole Marsh
from Gallopade International
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American Revolution
America at War Series
by Alden Carter
from Grolier Publishing
Historical Non-fiction for 4th-6th grade
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American Revolution for Kids
by Janis Herbert
1st edition from Chicago Review Press
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Ancient Maya
by Lila Perl
from Children's Press
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Atlas of North American Exploration
by Glyndwr Williams, William H. Goetzmann
Oklahoma Paperbacks Ed from University of Oklahoma Press
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Aztecs
Journey Into Civilization
by Robert Nicholson and Claire Watts
from Chelsea House Publishing
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Battle of the Little Bighorn
by Mark Henckel
1st edition from Falcon Press Publishing
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Behind the Blue and Gray
by Delia Ray
from Scholastic Inc.
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Behind the Blue and Gray
by Delia Ray
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Bentwood Box
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Big Annie of Calumet
by Jerry Stanley
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Bill of Rights
by Warren Colman
from Children's Book Club
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Biography of Benjamin Franklin
Sons of Liberty Series
by William M. Thayer
from A Beka Books
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Biography of James A. Garfield
Sons of Liberty Series
by William Thayer
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Birchbark House
by Louise Erdrich
from Hyperion/Madison Press
Historical Fiction for 4th-6th grade
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Bite of the Gold Bug
by Barthe DeClements
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Blackthorn Winter
Monroe Family Chronicles #1
by Doug Wilson
from Veritas Press
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Blackthorn Winter
Veritas Maritime Series #1
by Doug Wilson
from Veritas Press
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Bold Journey
by Charles Bohner
from Houghton Mifflin
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Bomb
by Steve Sheinkin
from Scholastic Inc.
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2013 Newbery Honor Book
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Boston Jane
by Jennifer L. Holm
from Scholastic Reference
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Boy on the Wooden Box
by Leon Leyson
Reprint from Atheneum
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Boy's War
by David Michell
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Boys' War
by Jim Murphy
from Clarion Books
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Brady
by Jean Fritz
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Bud, Not Buddy
by Christopher Paul Curtis
from Yearling
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2000 Newbery Medal winner
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Buffalo Bill
by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire
from Beautiful Feet Books
Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade
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Buffalo Bill
by Helen Cody Wetmore
from University of Nebraska
Biography for 6th-9th grade
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Bull Run
by Paul Fleischman, David Frampton (Woodcuts)
2nd edition from Scholastic Inc.
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Carolina's Courage
by Elizabeth Yates
from Bob Jones University Press
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Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
by Jean Lee Latham
from Houghton Mifflin
Biography for 5th-9th grade
1956 Newbery Medal winner
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Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
by Jean Lee Latham
from Scholastic Inc.
Biography for 5th-9th grade
1956 Newbery Medal winner
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Chains
Seeds of America #1
by Laurie Halse Anderson
from Atheneum
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Child's Day
Historic Communities
by Bobbie Kalman & Tammy Everts
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Children of the Wild West
by Russell Freedman
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Children's Stories
Tales of the Wild West Volume 6
by Rick Steber
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Christopher Columbus
Sowers Series
by Bennie Rhodes
from Mott Media
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Civil War
by Janet Cassidy
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Civil War
by Pat Wesolowski
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Step Into History
by Steven Otfinoski
from Children's Press
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$4.80 (1 in stock)
Civil War Days
American Kids in History
by David C. King
1st edition from John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
for 3rd-6th Grade
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$14.41 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Civil War for Kids
by Janis Herbert
from Chicago Review Press
Activity Guide for 4th-7th grade
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Civil War Heroines
by Jill Canon
from Bellerophon Books
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$2.00 (1 in stock)
Claudette Colvin
by Philip Hoose
from Square Fish Publishing
for 6th-9th grade
2010 Newbery Honor Book, 2010 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, National Book Award
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Colonial America
for 4th-6th grade
in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Colonial America: An Interactive History Adventure
You Choose Books
by Allison Lassieur
from Capstone Press
for 3rd-6th grade
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$4.40 (1 in stock)
Colonial Kids
by Laurie Carlson
1st edition from Chicago Review Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL)
$5.60 (2 in stock)
Colonial Town: Williamsburg
by Bobbie Kalman
Revised from Crabtree Publishing
for 1st-8th grade
in Colonial America (1690-1765) (Location: HISA-17COL)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Columbus and the Renaissance Explorers
by Colin Hynson
from Barron's
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$3.20 (1 in stock)
Come On, Seabiscuit!
by Ralph Moody
from University of Nebraska
Biography for 5th-9th grade
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$14.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Courage to Run
Daughters of the Faith
by Wendy G. Lawton
from Moody Press
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Cowboys
Tales of the Wild West Volume 4
by Rick Steber
from Bonanza Publishing
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Cowboys of the Wild West
by Russell Freedman
from Sandpiper Books
Non-fiction for 4th-8th grade
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Cowboys of the Wild West
by Russell Freedman
from Scholastic Inc.
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Danger in the Desert
by Roger Cohen
from Sterling Publishing Co.
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$3.60 (1 in stock)
Daniel Boone
by Daniel Boone
from Applewood Books
Biography for 4th-8th grade
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Daniel's Story
by Carol Matas
from Scholastic Inc.
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Darkness Over Denmark
by Ellen Levine
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Davy Crockett
by David Crockett
from Applewood Books
Biography for 4th-8th grade
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Declaration of Independence
by Sam Fink
from Scholastic Inc.
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Declaration of Independence in Translation
by Amie J, Leavitt
from Capstone Press
for 2nd-6th grade
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$3.20 (1 in stock)
Diary of an Early American Boy
by Eric Sloane
from Dover Publications
American History Reference for 4th-8th grade
in Pioneer & Frontier Life (Location: HISA-19PIO)
$13.56 $6.80 (1 in stock)
Discovery of the Americas
by Betsy & Giulio Maestro
from HarperTrophy
for 3rd-6th grade
in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
$8.49 $4.80 (2 in stock)
DK Eyewitness: Civil War
by John Stanchack
from DK Publishing
for 5th-8th grade
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$6.00 (1 in stock)
DK Ultimate Sticker Book Presidents
by DK Publishing
from DK Children
for 3rd-6th grade
in American Presidency (Location: HISV-PRE)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Douglas Macarthur: American Hero
Book Report Biographies
by Barbara Silberdick Feinberg
from Franklin Watts
for 3rd-6th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Down Ryton Water
by E.R. Gaggin
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
for 4th-6th grade
1942 Newbery Honor
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$3.60 (2 in stock)
Drive Thru History America with Dave Stotts: Foundations of Character - Book Only
by David Barton
from Tyndale House
for 6th-10th grade
in Drive Thru History with Dave Stotts (Location: ZCLE-HIS)
$6.50 (2 in stock)
Dust of the Earth
by Donna L. Hess
from Bob Jones University Press
Biographical Fiction for 4th-7th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Early Thunder
by Jean Fritz
from Puffin Books
for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$6.79 $3.20 (2 in stock)
Eating the Plates
by Lucille Recht Penner
from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 4th-9th grade
in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Education of Little Tree
by Forrest Carter
from University of New Mexico Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$2.40 (2 in stock)
Encounter
by Jane Yolen
1st edition from Voyager Paperbacks
for 1st-6th grade
in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
$8.49 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Eric the Red & Leif the Lucky
by Barbara Schiller
from Avyx, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Escape from Slavery
by Frederick Douglass, edited and illustrated by Michael McCurdy, foreword by Coretta Scott King
from Beautiful Feet Books
for 6th-8th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$11.89 $7.20 (1 in stock)
Eve of Revolution
by Barbara Burt
from National Geographic
for 4th-6th grade
in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV)
$5.50 (1 in stock)
Everything You Need to Know About American History Homework
by Anne Zeman & Kate Kelly
from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in American History Reference (Location: HISA-REF)
$4.40 (1 in stock)
Everything You Need to Know About American History Homework
by Anne Zeman & Kate Kelly
3rd edition from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in American History Reference (Location: HISA-REF)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Exploration and Conquest
The American Story Series
by Betsy & Giulio Maestro
from HarperCollins
for 3rd-7th grade
in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
$10.19 $6.00 (2 in stock)
Explorers News
The History News
by Michael Johnstone
from Candlewick Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
$5.94 $3.20 (4 in stock)
Explorers Who Got Lost
by Diane Dreher
from Tor Classic
Non-fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
$4.00 (3 in stock)
Faith Unfurled
from History Compass
for 4th-8th grade
in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL)
$6.76 $3.20 (1 in stock)
Famous Figures of the American Revolution
from Figures in Motion
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV)
$9.60 (2 in stock)
Farmer Boy
Little House Series #3
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
from HarperCollins
Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$11.89 $4.80 (1 in stock)
Father's Promise
by Donna Hess
from Bob Jones University Press
Historical fiction for 5th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Flight of the Nez Perce
Highlights from American History
by Bill Schneider
Revised from Falcon Press Publishing
for 4th-6th grade
in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
Focus on Presidents
by Cynthia Holzschuher
for 3rd-7th grade
in American Presidency (Location: HISV-PRE)
$3.20 (2 in stock)
Fort Clatsop
by Daniel J. Dattilio
from KC Publishing
for 4th-8th grade
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$4.50 (2 in stock)
Francis Asbury
by Geoff Benge, Janet Benge
from YWAM Publishing
Biographies for 4th-7th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$10.19 $4.80 (1 in stock)
Francis Scott Key
Sowers Series
by David Collins
from Mott Media
for 5th-7th grade
in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW)
$7.64 $4.00 (3 in stock)
George Washington
Sowers Series
by Norma Cournow Camp
from Mott Media
Biography for 6th-8th grade
in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
George Washington Carver
Sowers Series
by David Collins
from Mott Media
Biography for 5th-7th grade
in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW)
Gettysburg Address in Translation
by Kay M., Olson
from Capstone Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in American Civil War Era (1850-1865) (Location: HISA-19CW)
$6.76 $3.20 (1 in stock)
Give Me Liberty
by L. M. Elliott
from HarperCollins
for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
Gold Cadillac
by Mildred D. Taylor
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
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